Voluntary Sector North West has recently published research undertaken by CLES and partners at the Centre for Local Policy Studies exploring the impact of emerging government policies upon equalities issues in the North West. The research has found that:

1. Reforms have come at a cost
2. New forms of representation are weak and exclude equalities groups
3. Spending cuts are damaging voluntary sector capacity to deliver big society
4. The new policy framework is liable to reinstate old patterns of exclusion and discrimination
5. Implementation is disproportionately harming the most excluded
6. The capacity of equalities groups to participate and hold public bodies to account is heading towards a point of critical failure. (more…)

25th February, 10:00am – 4:00pm

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation

Number 5

Richmond St, Manchester

M1 3HF

Lunch and refreshments will be included.

Travel bursaries are available by pre-arrangement  with the LGF

To book a place or for more information, contact adam.winter@lgf.org.uk or call 0845 3 30 30 30.

In January 2012, brap published a briefing paper entitled ’18 years on: reflections on the Stephen Lawrence verdict’.

This paper uses the recent verdict in the Stephen Lawrence trial as an opportunity to reflect on what works in the promotion of equality, fairness, and cohesion.

Please visit the brap website to read the full briefing paper.

Newcastle CVS is working closely with VONNE to monitor the impact of the spending cuts on the voluntary and community sector in the North East. 

VONNE has been running this impact study since 2009, and is actively tracking any changes.  The Millfield House Foundation has funded some additional work and the research will focus on particular geographic areas, one of which is Newcastle. 

Can you to give up fifteen minutes of your valuable time to fill it in? 

The link to the survey is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NewcastleJan2012 

The survey closes at 4pm on Tuesday 31st January. 

It is important to have a strong and thriving voluntary and community sector and VONNE has previously used the results from surveys to lobby for additional resources and campaign to highlight the importance of what we do and the impact on those we support.

The Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP) will be holding a series of briefing seminars for the Voluntary and Community Sector during January and February 2012 on Human Rights and its relationship to equalities.

 The 2 hour seminars will focus on the Human Rights Act and how it can be used to tackle inequality and disadvantage. (more…)

Young people believe poverty is one of the key reasons behind the August riots, according to a new survey.

Behind the Riots, a survey commissioned by The Children’s Society, found most 13 to 17-year-olds and adults believed that a reason why people became involved in the trouble that blighted the country was “to get goods and possessions they couldn’t afford to buy”.

The charity polled 1,004 adults and 1,077 13 to 17-year-olds from across the UK in an online survey between October 3 and November 10. It said they gave a mixed picture overall, with most choosing more than one reason why the riots happened. (more…)

Download the full Plain English guide to the Localism Act – Update.

Summary

This document describes the main measures of the Localism Act under four headings:

• new freedoms and flexibilities for local government
• new rights and powers for communities and individuals
• reform to make the planning system more democratic and more effective
• reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally (more…)

The Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, is today delivering the Scarman Lecture, hosted by the People Can charity, to an invited audience in Brixton.
In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister will give a frank assessment of the race debate in Britain since the Brixton riots in 1981:
A great deal has been achieved in the last thirty years.
“We have moved forward on a number of fronts: legal rights – where we have seen the most success. Political representation is better – though of course there is still a very, very long way to go. I say that as a leader of a political party that is still too male and too pale. A problem we are working very hard to fix.

(more…)

Devon and Cornwall Police are considering scrapping specialist diversity officers.

For the last few years, the team of seven specialist officers has been working with minority groups.

The force is considering giving the work to neighbourhood policing teams instead. A consultation was under way until 9 December, police said.

The move has been criticised by minority groups, which said it could lead to increases in hate crimes. (more…)

The Institute For Health Equity is based at University College London and will be led by Professor Michael Marmot, a specialist in public health.

It is being given £1 million government funding to last for three years.

Professor Marmot said: ‘I am delighted to see work to tackle health inequalities integrated into the Government’s plans for public health. (more…)